Safety razor cushion



Feb. 1, 1949. I I w! Ma cMlcKlNG 2,460,645

SAFETY RAZOR CUSHION Filed Aug. 26, 1944 "N ay A n 4 j Patented Feb. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY RAZOR CUSHION '7 William P. MacMicking, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application August 26, 1944, Serial No. 551,294

.6 Claims.

shaving.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple and inexpensive attachment of this character adapted to guard against irritation of the skin and tofacilitate shaving procedure generally, including that of applying and properly distributing the shaving cream andmoisture or lather and insuring continuous lubrication of the skin and razor edge throughout the shaving operation. T

A particular object is 'toprovide a cushion comprising a wedge-shaped strip of soft, readily compressible, resilient, porous material covering the top surface of the razor and tapering toward the edge of the blade to distribute shaving cream or lather evenly and closely adjacent to the cutting edge, so that at each stroke the shaved area of the skin is left in a soothed, moist condition and smoother, cleaner cutting of the beard or hair ,at the skin line. may be accomplished with a minimum of irritation of the skin.

To illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention and not to limit it, reference is had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing my cushion in place on a safety razor of common type and indicating, diagrammatically, its operative relation to a skin surface in the process of shaving;

Fig. 2 is an upper end view, on a somewhat larger scale, showing the cushion and razor, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the drawing, the razor shown has a handle 4, a main blade backing member 5, a blade 6 and a member 1 adapted to engage the top or outer face of the blade. To permit clamping of the blade between the members and 1, a threaded stud 8 is fixed at one end on the member 1 and has a shank extending through openings in the blade and member 5 into a threaded axial bore 9 in the handle 4. The handle 4 may be detached from the stud 8 to permit the removal of the blade and separation of members 5 and I.

The cushion, indicated generally by the numeral I0, is secured to the outer surface of the top member I by a suitable adhesive. This cushion is double wedge shaped in cross section and covers substantially the entire outer surface of the member 1, being thickest along its median line and tapered toward its longitudinalmargins H which extend parallel and adjacent to opposite cutting edges 6a respectively of the blade 8. I prefer to construct the cushion ID from soft, flexible, porous rubber, either natural or synthetic, such as that variously called sponge or air foam rubber. The pores in the'cushion should be open to the outer, convex face ll. of the cushion to permit'the absorption of an adequate quantity of shaving cream or lather. At the inner, concave face, however, the pores should be closed to afford a surface adapted to be adhesively secured tothe member I. The adhesive for forming this bond is preferably one 0f the pressure sensitive type and it must be insoluble .both in water'and in the shaving creams and soaps that are to beused. A suitable rubber cement may be used to attach the cushion to the razor when the cushion is made of a rubber or rubber-like composition. 1 For best results the cushion must be soft, flexible, readily compressible, resilient and porous. A good grade of sponge rubber is sufiiciently resistant to, wear to permit cushions composed of it to be useda large numberof times. However, sinceit maybe replaced at nominal cost, the cushion may be constructed from other material such as fine grain natural sponge, or sponge-like material,, or even from a textile fabric having a pile, such as a velvet.

In Fig. 1 my device is shown in its operative position with respect to a skin surface I 3 to be shaved. This surface is usually covered, preparatory to shaving, with a layer of shaving cream or lather, indicated by the numeral l4. With the cushion in place on the razor head and before the blade is mounted between the members 5 and 1, the cushion may be used to apply and properly distribute the shaving cream or lather on the face or other surface to be shaved.

Thus the cushion may be used as a convenient and eflicient substitute for a shaving brush to prepare the face for shaving, that is to say, for applying the lather or cream and softening the beard. The blade is then mounted, as shown, between the members 5 and I and the razor is used to shave in the usual manner. This causes the cushion [0 to massage the skin immediately adjacent to the cutting edge and the cushion carries on its surface and in its pores a quantity of cream or lather and moisture which it distributes as a film, indicated by the numeral [5 (Fig. 1) rearwardly of the blade edge. This massaging and film spreading action takes place during each successive stroke of the razor blade. Consequently the skin is kept moist and well lubricated and the blade operates smoothly at all times through a moist and soothing film on the skin.

When it is desired to massage into the skin such cream as may remain on the face after shaving, the cushion Ill may be used as an applicator J this i eo fter rem vin he blade from the razor and assembling the handle and members 5 and"! carrying the cushion.

My cushion is shown attached to a razor of one common, double edged type, but it will be understood that it may be applied to safety razors 7 generally, including those having a single cut ting edge. In the latter case the cushion I'll may be cut in two equal, wedge shaped members along its longitudinal median line and either of these members may be attached to the top of a single edged razor, with the thin edge of the cushion member extendingalong and adjacent tothe cutting edge. 7

It will be evident that the cushiorrl 0. continuously gathers; excess moisture and cream or lather from the face and distributes it evenly and with gentle pressure over the entire areas. en-' gaged bythevcutting edge of the razor. This promotes: smoother, cleaner. cutting of. the beard at the skin. line and minimizes. irritation of the skin upon. each succeeding stroke of the razor.

Having; described my invention, What I claim asnew and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

I. In a razor having a blade and a top backing therefor, the improvements which comprise, a

compressible. cushion attached to the outer surface of said backing and having a margin tapering toward the cutting edge of said blade and extending parallel and adjacent thereto, said cushion being compressible against the surface over which the razor is drawn during the o'perati'oniof shaving,

. 2; In a; razor having a blade and atop been in'g therefor, the improvements which comprise, a compressible cushion attached to the outer surrace or said backing and having a margin of reduced thickness extending along the cutting edge of said blade to be compressed against the surface over which-the razor is drawn in shaving, simultaneously with the shaving operation.

3. In a razor having a blade and a top backing therefor, the improvement which comprises, an absorbent, compressible cushion covering the outer face of said backing and having a, marginal portion of reduced thickness extending along and adjacent to the cutting edge of said blade andi an adhesive bonding the cushion to said backing.

K 4. In a razor having a double edge blade and a top backing therefor, the improvement which comprises, an absorbent, compressible cushion covering the outer face of said backing, having a relatively thick portion extending along the median line ofsaid backing and marginal portions tapering toward the respective edges of said blade.

5. For a razor having a blade and a top backing: therefor; a strip .Qf compressible, porousmaterial; adapted. to overlie the .outer surface-f saidbacking-and. to befixed thereon in position to make continuous contact with the surface. over which the razoris... drawn in shaving .and ad:- hesive means for securing said strip to the outer surface of saidbacking. 1,;

6. In combination with ,a razorhavinga, blade and. a top? .backingtherefon a strip oi fl compressible material overlying the outer surfaceof said backing and fixed. thereon with a,,.10ngitudina1 margin of said strip; ektendingparallerto the cutting edge of therazor, in: positiontoybe, 01. pressed againstsaid'surface of ,the;backing and to make continuous contact with the surface over which the razoris drawn inshaving. WILLIAM P. MACMICKING.

niiFEitfiNcEs CITED The renew ng references are in record in the fi of i wa UNITED STATES r A'rnn'rs Name Date Vallon Dec. 31, 1929 number 

